First Impressions – Swasti Eco Cottages

Hi everyone! Just so you know, this is where I’m writing from – on my private balcony while a thunderstorm passes over Swasti Eco Cottages (all the while naked little children are still swimming in the pool).  But before I introduce you to my home for the week, which I’m doing now because I have no idea how much time I’ll have to blog once my Flora Bowley workshop starts, let me recount my day.

This was the first morning I didn’t set my alarm (I had set it 2 days ago- I just didn’t set it right…).  I smiled when I woke up and looked at the time to see that it was 5am on the dot.  My internal clock is definitely working well.  I showered, finished packing, and went to 6 am meditation / fire ceremony / and yoga before a delicious breakfast of curried noodles and vegetable.

I am so grateful for my time at the Anand Ashram in Ubud. I definitely felt welcomed there and the blend of relaxation, spirituality, beauty, good food, and great people absolutely added to that.  This is my favourite photo from my time there – to me it represents all that the ashram offers – giving, receiving, mindfulness, natural beauty, peace, community, solitude, etc.

At 9am, Yuda and Herny drove me to my next home.  They offered to do so for 40,000 Rp ($4) after they strongly reacted to the “only 100,000 Rp” ($10) that my resort wanted to charge me to send a taxi to come and get me.  I really appreciated the savings, but also transitioning to the next chapter with my previous hosts.  They were as surprised as I was though, when turning onto one of the last public streets.  A man was stopping cars and charging them a toll ($2).  They wondered if it was because their car plates were Indonesian vs. Balinese and if it was another ploy to make money from tourists.  They had recently told me of the locals who started charging tourists to view the hundreds of egrets who come back to their nests at night – in a public location. They, however, were allowed to walk past them without paying.  Entrepreneurs…  Anyhow, we found Swasti Eco Cottages and Yuda graciously helped me with my bag as the long driveway into the place is only large enough for motorbikes.  With my art supplies, easel, camera, etc. I’ve got more than I could carry alone.

Wow!  The place is gorgeous! It’s not in the center of town and so I will continue to be blessed with nature and songbirds. Yay!  It was only 10am when I arrived, and so I knew my room wouldn’t be ready.  So I left my bags with reception and walked around for an hour taking photos of my first impressions.  The place consists of several cottages on a large property – each with their own garden and veranda.

There’s also an organic garden somewhere and, as it turns out, goats!  I was taking a photograph of the entrance ramp when I heard noises behind me.  I turned around in time to very quickly snap these shots and avoid being trampled (a bit of a dramatization – I do that) – totally unexpected!  Fun!  They were being brought out to pasture – I wonder where, and I’m glad I wasn’t on the entrance path with my suitcase as they went rushing out.

At 11am, I was shown to my room. It’s on the 2nd floor of a 2-storey building near the reception and overlooking the pool.  I’ve always liked apartments better than houses to live in, so this was perfect! In the photos below, it’s the top left room (from the front) and the top right from the rice paddy/entrance). I really appreciate simple living and can do with quite little.  But I also love luxury and the beauty of this room took my breath away.  I was even more surprised that there was only 1 bed.  I had requested a shared room to save on costs and was told I would be sharing.

top left balcony

top right – view from the road

I quickly looked around, took a few photos, changed into my bathing suit and went for a swim.  I’m reconnecting to my love of swimming here – always loved the water.  My skin, however, doesn’t like chlorine and my eczema is especially bad in this heat. This pool is salt water based and the itching afterwards was fierce, even after 2 rinses.  Oh well.  A few minutes of itchiness  didn’t take away from the sheer pleasure of swimming – something I don’t think I’ve done in the last couple of years.

What a relief, therefore, when my skin and whole body got quite the treat at 12pm during my complimentary massage (well, it was part of the retreat).  Amazing!  I hadn’t had a massage in 9 months.  My friend Cheryl from Embrace Wellness in St. John’s used to barter with me, and so my body really needed this after so many months.  Wow! 1.5 hour full body massage, Balinese style. There were some distinct differences from the many kinds of treatments I’ve been blessed with in my life. I truly benefited.  As I drank my delicious cup of tea afterward, I looked at their spa offerings – so many choices for under $20, so I’ll listen to that angel card reading I got in the Czech Republic 2 weeks ago and pamper myself a bit while I’m here and if we have time.  My body, mind, and soul could use it.

After my massage, I met Flora, Rachel and Nicole in the organic restaurant (the organizers).  We’d all been on Facebook together and I knew Flora from her 5-week e-course, so it was like meeting people I already knew. Nice.  They seemed surprised that I was in a private room when I asked them about it, and said they’d check into it as I told them I didn’t have the budget for a single one.  I was in quite the mellow mood after my massage, and so I headed to the cushioned area and ordered a Balinese salad with tempeh (with some ingredients from their organic garden) and simply took everything in (the view and yes, later the salad).  The prices are definitely higher than at the ashram or in town.  Breakfast, however, is included.  I must stop focusing on my budget, however.  Sure, I need to be reasonable while I’m here, but I’m here because I was guided and the Universe (and many of you) supported my vision with the abundance to fulfill it.  I can’t afford to be wasteful, but I can certainly afford to focus on being healthy, abundant, and joyful while experiencing what this place and my workshops have to offer.  So I let any concerns go and a few minutes later, Flora came to give me the good news.  I could stay in my room as we’ve got the whole place booked for ourselves and no one else was assigned to it.  Perfect!  I will enjoy my social time and would have adapted to having a roommate for sure, but I totally appreciate my having my private space.

I can see that many of the folks from the retreat have arrived.  I’ve met a few, but am slowly transitioning to being more social after my week at the ashram and my amazing massage.  We’re all meeting at 6pm for our opening dinner and ceremony. I’ll be at my most extravert by then.  Still a couple of hours to relax and listen to the rain.  It’s coming straight down hard and so it’s not affecting me on my balcony at all.  Life is so very good.

P.S. They turned the Internet off during the storm and later the connection was very sporadic and weak – I had to start uploading photos only at 3am when I woke up to go to the washroom (I’m lucky my room is near reception as not all rooms have wi-fi) and by 5:30am when I woke up for good, it hadn’t succeeded in uploading them all – lots of false starts and retries until 9am when we started.  So I’ll have to let go of my blogging habit to be fully present.  No worries though – I’ll eventually have my photos online.  You too will have to practice patience 🙂  all part of the Balinese experience.